N2bn SME Fund for Distribution
Ewa Innocent, The Sight News
Abakaliki: Ebonyi state government has approved N1 billion palliative to help cushion the effect of economic hardship on the people of Ebonyi state, occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Also approved include, the immediate distribution of two billion naira, being the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)fund facility, secured for disbursement to the youths and women, to enable them go into entrepreneurship,vocational and agric related programmes.
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, and Acting commissioner for human capital development, Barr.Uchenna Orji, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s state Executive Council meeting, held at EXCO chambers, government house, Abakaliki.
His word, “Governor looked at the need to give palliatives to the people of Ebonyi state in the face of this challenging covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The governor considered a lot of issues, the hardship it has created, the economic quagmire it has also created across the nation.
“The governor proactively and compassionately in the Executive Council meeting, approved that we give palliative to the people of Ebonyi state. So,the council approved the sum of one billion naira to enable us to procure 400,000— 5kg bags of rice to give to the vulnerable persons”.
The Commissioner who emphasised that the one billion naira approved by the Council will enable the government procure 400,000 5kg rice, to give to the vulnerable persons in the state, also said, Council has approved the immediate production of 400,000 Facemasks for distribution alongside the rice and other food items.
The Commissioner announced that the state Executive Council has also relaxed the directive earlier placed on burial ceremonies with some conditions,which include, among others, that the burial must be between 9th and 20th of April, 2020.
The family of the deceased will have to seek the approval of the state government, through the office of the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, and show locations, full address of the place and the date for the burial.
The Senior special Assistant to the governor on Religious and Welfare matters, Rev. Father Abraham Nwali, who said Christain Association of Nigeria(CAN),Ebonyi state chapter had acknowledged the efforts of state governor, Engr. David Umahi, in preventing the spread of covid-19 to the state,said the Council resolved to relax the ban earlier placed on religious worship, but, with some restrictions, which include among others—that church services should start from 8 am and end by 12 noon.
Adding that every church must have running water, hand sanitizers in their worship centres,while every worshiper must put a face mask to cover his or her mouth and nose,in addition, observe other precautionary measures.
